Entering Students at
Paul D. Camp
Community College:
SENSE 2007 Results
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SENSE
Survey of
ENtering
Student
Engagement
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SENSE
Focus on Entering Students
Fall 2007 Pilot, 4th-5th Weeks
22 Colleges in Eight States
PDCCC the Only Virginia College
101 Entering PDCCC Students
72 Returning PDCCC Students
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SENSE
About 50% of Entering Community
College Students Do Not Persist to the
Second Year (About 40% at PDCCC)
Survey Is Based in Research About
What Promotes Student Success
Student Engagement Is a Major Focus
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PDCCC Sample Included
Students from
Developmental English
and Mathematics
ENG 111
MTH 151
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A Sample of
PDCCC Results:
Much to
Celebrate
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I was required to take a
placement test
(COMPASS…)
95% “Yes” at PDCCC
79% “Yes” at Small Colleges
75% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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An academic advisor
reviewed my placement
test scores (COMPASS,
ASSET…)
85% “Yes” at PDCCC
77% “Yes” at Small Colleges
75% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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An academic advisor
explained the college
required me to enroll in the
classes indicated by my
placement scores during my
first academic term
89% “Yes” at PDCCC
75% “Yes” at Small Colleges
72% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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An academic advisor helped
me to select a course of
study/program or major
56% “Yes” at PDCCC
52% “Yes” at Small Colleges
52% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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An academic advisor helped
me to set academic goals and
to create a plan to achieve
them
41% “Yes” at PDCCC
34% “Yes” at Small Colleges
33% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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At least one college staff
member knew my name
64% “Yes” at PDCCC
43% “Yes” at Small Colleges
39% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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At least one college student
(whom I did not know) knew
my name
67% “Yes” at PDCCC
56% “Yes” at Small Colleges
57% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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At least one faculty member
knew my name
62% “Yes” at PDCCC
49% “Yes” at Small Colleges
45% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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The very first time I came to
this college I felt welcome
38% strongly agree & 39% agree at
PDCCC (77% combined)
24% strongly agree & 42% agree at
Small Colleges (66% combined)
20% strongly agree & 42% agree at
Other Cohort Colleges (62% combined)
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I was able to access the
information I needed to complete
the enrollment process
49% strongly agree & 36% agree at
PDCCC (85% combined)
36% strongly agree & 47% agree at
Small Colleges (83% combined)
32% strongly agree & 50% agree at
Other Cohort Colleges (82% combined)
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A college faculty or staff member
talked with me about my commitments
outside of school to help me figure out
how many courses to take
25% strongly agree & 25% agree at
PDCCC (50% combined)
16% strongly agree & 23% agree at
Small Colleges (39% combined)
13% strongly agree & 21% agree at
Other Cohort Colleges (34% combined)
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I could go to a faculty or staff
member with questions or
concerns related to my coursework
47% strongly agree & 40% agree at
PDCCC (87% combined)
32% strongly agree & 44% agree at
Small Colleges (76% combined)
27% strongly agree & 44% agree at
Other Cohort Colleges (71% combined)
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I could go to a faculty or staff
member with questions or
concerns about matters unrelated
to my coursework
17% strongly agree & 25% agree at
PDCCC (42% combined)
13% strongly agree & 21% agree at
Small Colleges (34% combined)
11% strongly agree & 21% agree at
Other Cohort Colleges (32% combined)
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Instructors had activities to
introduce students to one
another
30% strongly agree & 48% agree at
PDCCC (78% combined)
26% strongly agree & 37% agree at
Small Colleges (63% combined)
24% strongly agree & 39% agree at
Other Cohort Colleges (63% combined)
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In the First Three Weeks
PDCCC Students Were More
Likely to
Work with other students on a project
during class (82% versus 74% for others)
Work with classmates outside of class to
prepare class assignments (46% versus
32% for others)
In the First Three Weeks
PDCCC Students Were More
Likely to
Use email to communicate with an
instructor (68% versus 51% for others)
Discuss an assignment or a grade with an
instructor (76% versus 57% for others)
Discuss ideas from readings or classes
with an instructor outside of class (40%
versus 27% for others)
Would you recommend this
college to a friend or family
member?
96% “Yes” at PDCCC
95% “Yes” at Small Colleges
94% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
A Sample of PDCCC
Results:
Challenges to
Consider
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All the courses I needed to
take during my first term
were available at convenient
times for me
66% “Yes” at PDCCC
76% “Yes” at Small Colleges
76% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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Of your first term courses,
how many did you drop after
the first day of class?
1 Class: 9% PDCCC, 4% Small Colleges
2 Classes: 4% PDCCC, 1% Small
Colleges
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During the first three weeks of
your first term, how many hours
per week did you actually spend
studying outside of class?
1-5 Hours: 58% PDCCC, 52% Cohort
6-10 Hours: 25% PDCCC, 28% Cohort
11-20 Hours: 10% PDCCC, 11% Cohort
21-30 Hours: 2% PDCCC, 3% Cohort
More Than 30: 1% PDCCC, 1% Cohort
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Did you know about it? Peer
or other tutoring
77% “Yes” at PDCCC
81% “Yes” at Small Colleges
77% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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How often did you use it?
Peer or other tutoring
Not at all: 83% PDCCC, 75% Cohort
Once: 4% PDCCC, 11% Cohort
Several Times: 9% PDCCC, 8% Cohort
At least weekly: 1% PDCCC, 3% Cohort
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Did you know about it? Skills
lab (writing, math, etc.)
58% “Yes” at PDCCC
66% “Yes” at Small Colleges
73% “Yes” at Other Cohort Colleges
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How often did you use it?
Skills lab (writing, math, etc.)
Not at all: 58% PDCCC, 57% Cohort
Once: 16% PDCCC, 13% Cohort
Several Times: 16% PDCCC,19% Cohort
At least weekly: 5% PDCCC, 9% Cohort
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In what range was your
overall high school grade or
average?
A: 1% PDCCC, 6% Cohort
A- to B+: 18% PDCCC, 27% Cohort
B: 16% PDCCC,25% Cohort
B- to C+: 32% PDCCC, 25% Cohort
C: 22% PDCCC, 9% Cohort
C- or lower: 7% PDCCC, 3% Cohort
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Thanks for Helping
Students Succeed;
Let’s Work Together
to Address Challenges
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